Kent · London and the South East
Alkham Chimney Survey
Wondering about the chimney stack at a property in Alkham? We carry out chimney surveys in Alkham and across Kent.
- Eroded joints in the brickwork
- Flaunching that has broken away
- Frost-damaged brickwork on the stack
Landlords, agents and block managers in Alkham
Any of our surveys can be booked by landlords, agents and building managers in Alkham. To discuss a property or a block, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
For blocks of flats, a roof survey helps managing agents and residents’ management companies plan ahead. Recommendations are set out in order of urgency where relevant.
About our chimney survey in Alkham
Redundant chimneys are common, especially where fires have been replaced by central heating. A disused stack still needs looking after. If it has been capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside it. We check how redundant stacks have been capped and look for damp in the chimney breasts. You get photos of each stack and our recommendations. If you’re worried about eroded joints in the brickwork and frost-damaged brickwork on the stack, a survey will tell you what’s going on, on flaunching, shared and party-wall stacks and brick chimney stacks alike.
In a village or hamlet like Alkham, older cottages and farmhouses frequently sit alongside barns, outbuildings and a few newer houses. Older roofs may be clay tile, slate, stone or thatch, frequently with chimneys that have stood a long time. We report on everything that’s safely in view, and thatch is a specialist material. Chimneys and lead flashings on old roofs often need the most attention.
We write the report in plain English, so you do not need to be a roofer to follow it. Photographs show what each point refers to.
- Location
- Alkham (CT15)
- Wider area
- Kent
- Cost
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
What affects the cost of chimney surveys
Prices always include VAT. The things that change the price are:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- Height and safe access
- The size of the roof
We offer three survey packages: Basic from £150, Standard from £250 and Premium from £400, all including VAT. What your roof costs depends on its size, access and what you want to find out.
Getting in touch
These details help when you get in touch:
- When you need the report by
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The property’s address and postcode
- What made you get in touch
For a price for chimney surveys in Alkham, ring 07833 053749 or use the contact form. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.
DIY checks: what’s safe
It is useful to keep a record: when leaks happen, ground-level photos and any past roof work. Send it with your enquiry, as it helps us focus the survey.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Never climb onto the roof to look.
What we can’t see
Without opening up the roof, some things stay hidden, so a survey has limits:
- Hidden damage within the stack
- Hidden sides of a shared stack
- Flue inspections or sweeping
If in doubt, call 07833 053749 or send us an email and we will recommend the right survey. What a survey covers and does not.
What this survey covers
- Lead flashings
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Brick chimney stacks
Towns and villages near Alkham
Also in Alkham
Tips from our surveys
These tips come from what we see on roofs every week:
- Remove aerials or dishes from the stack if they’re no longer needed
- Keep track of stains on chimney breasts
- Check that disused chimneys can still breathe
- Book a sweep for flues that are in use
Questions about the findings are always welcome. The Standard Survey includes a follow-up consultation and the Premium Survey an in-person consultation.
Watch for damp or staining on chimney breasts. The sooner damp is spotted, the easier the cause is to find.
Alkham questions
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Alkham, take more of a battering?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Alkham is within about 3 miles of the coast.
I let a flat near Kearsney station. Can you check the roof?
Yes, that’s a common request. We just need to know who will give access, and the report can go straight to you or your agent.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
The survey covers the pots and cowls, the flaunching, the pointing, the bricks and the flashings. Inside, we look for damp on chimney breasts and in the loft where there’s safe access. You get a written report with photos.
How many surveys have you done?
We have more than 20 years’ experience and have carried out more than 5,000 surveys.
How do you inspect a chimney without scaffolding?
We look from ground level, from windows and from the loft where it’s safe. A drone inspection is part of the Premium Survey where it applies. Any area we couldn’t view is noted.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
There are a few common causes: cracked flaunching, worn pointing, failed flashings, uncapped pots, or damp trapped in an unventilated stack. Our survey checks each of these and records the likely cause.
Local roofs in Alkham
The coast is about 3 miles or less from Alkham, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Salt is hard on nails, clips and metal flashings, and strong wind lifts anything already loose on a roof. Historic houses like Acrise Place, about 3.9 miles west, show how far back building in the area around Alkham goes. Period homes nearby can have lead valleys, tall chimneys and a patchwork of past repairs, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area.
For an older house near a landmark like Church of St Anthony the Martyr, its chimney, valleys and lead work are likely to be the parts that need attention first. If you live near a park like Sladden Wood, or anywhere with mature trees, autumn leaves can block gutters and valleys. For landlords with property near Kearsney station, knowing the condition of the roof, chimneys and gutters helps you plan work rather than react to complaints.
Alkham is about 3 miles west of Dover, in Kent. We survey roofs in Alkham and the rest of Kent, as part of our work across London and South East England. Alkham is one of the places in Kent we cover for chimney surveys. For surveys nearby, see our Canterbury page.
Chimney surveys in CT15 are booked the same way as anywhere else. Local streets include Alkham Valley Road, Hogbrook Hill Lane and Newlyn's Meadow. Neighbouring places we cover for chimney surveys include South Alkham (1 mile south-west), Chalksole Green (1 mile north-west), Ewell Minnis (1 mile north), Wolverton (1 mile north-east) and Drellingore (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Ashford (15 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-west), Dover (3 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-west), Deal (9 miles north-east) and Hythe (8 miles south-west).
What’s near Alkham
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Sladden Wood, among other places. The nearest railway station is Kearsney station, about 2.3 miles north-east of the centre. Well-known places in the area include Folkestone Castle (3.7 miles south-west) and Crabble Corn Mill (2.6 miles east). Open spaces near Alkham include Dover Western Heights and Sugar Loaf Hill.
What happens on the day
On the day, we start by asking what you’ve noticed and what you want to find out. We then inspect everything that can safely be seen. Most surveys take about one to two hours for most homes, a little longer where there are several stacks. For a village or hamlet like Alkham, the journey is planned beforehand: tell us about narrow lanes, gates, long drives and where we can park. On the day, we inspect what can be seen safely, inside and out.
- You tell us whether any stacks are shared, unused or leaning.
- We check the roof around each stack, including the flashings.
- We check the flaunching and pots on every stack.
- We note the brickwork, pointing and any sign of leaning.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- If you’re buying, let the agent know when we are coming
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
- Agree roof access with the managing agent if it’s shared
Getting a price
To arrange a survey, call 07833 053749 or email us with the address and what you’d like to know about the roof. You will know the price before anything is booked.